Hello Neighbor

*Ana*

"Queen Hildenberg?" The words finally break free from locked lips, but just as I utter her name, I am lost anew. I blink after the giant queen as she moves, swaying that pink gown like a bell with each click of her heel. 

"Hidi," She corrects but not hastily, not as if offended. More as if she is just informing me in a detached way, just like her peridot eyes glide over my room, before coming back to find me. 

"It's Hidi." She repeats, meeting me with a warm smile.

"Hidi." I correct. Her cheeks pinken as if happy by that. Then she's moving. She clicks her heels against the wooden floor with each step.

"There is a change to plans." Hidi continues, stopping short of touching me at the vanity. Her giant stature is already tall on its own without heels, looming over me by more than a foot or two. 

"It is a costume ball now." 

"A costume?" I look back at her in the mirror to see her green eyes glint with delight.

Hidi nods. "I came to tell you." 

That is why she is here. I only nod back. But already, I can't help but wonder why a queen would go out of her way to tell me. 

A maid would have worked as well, wouldn't it? But I stomach the notion for now. 

"I must thank you then." I return, meeting her eyes in the glass. "I will take that into account."

"Of course," Hidi's grin stays but lingers, finding a silence between us like a quiet pressure.

Was there something else? I wonder. 

Maybe… she is waiting for some acknowledgment? I nod softly to myself, pausing my fingertips on the stitching to half-turn to her.

"Thank you again for telling me about the change-"

"I am going as the sun." Hidi suddenly interjects brightly. 

"Oh, yes?" I jolt slightly at the sudden news. Hidi nods, leaning next to me to brush her blond bangs in the mirror. 

"I'm going to wear a yellow dress and put sunflowers in my hair like the sun's rays." Hidi continues before flicking energetic eyes to my open trunks.

"And what will you be?"

"What will I-" But before I can even start to think of anything, she's already storming over, her loud steps filling the room as she halts to bend down to start pulling out the gowns.

"Nononono." The giant girl tuts, lifting a sunflower brow back at me before she tosses a velvet dress lined in white rabbit fur over her puffed shoulder.

"None of this will do." She folds her arms over her chest to shake her blond braid like a whip.

"Why ever did you bring such heavy fabrics? Did you forget it's summer?" 

"I…thought Dawny would be cooler," I confess with a knot forming in my stomach, realizing how silly that idea was now, especially as she holds up the velvets and corduroy.

 "I just didn't know it would be this hot in summer." I exhale softly before curling the hem around my fingers as my cheeks warm a little. My eyes drift down to the red rug with a faded rose pattern well worn in from a thousand feet before me. 

"The last I was here was- " 

"Back at his Prince Nicoli's fifth birthday?" 

I blink up with a slight jerk that rattles the gold chains. I nod. 

"Yes. How did you know?"

"Someone… mentioned it." Hidi is looking at me again. It's a strange little look as if trying to read the thoughts of a wild animal. Her thick lips press in a moment as if considering something. But then they close. Whatever it was, she changed her mind, instead coming back over to me.

Green eyes zoned with focus on me. No, not at me- she was looking at my shawl.

"You should braid your hair, Ana," Hidi's accent circles my nickname as if playing around with it like a ball. Purposely emphasizing informality, like many things about her, I'm noticing.

 But I am already lost in the first part to remark on the second.

"Braid?" I repeat to see her nod in the mirror.

"Yes, braid." Hidi motions to the neat pleat of gold hair. "I could braid yours if you like?"

I couldn't resist the lift in my breath at the offer.

"Could you-" But I bite my tongue.

No, I can't ask another monarch to do my hair. What would she think of me? How rude would that be? 

I feel myself sink a little on my feet as I already know I can't. I have to stay proper.

"No, thank you, your majesty." I start shaking the chains on my shawl. "I will manage myself-"

"Sit." Hidi was already moving to the vanity. Her large finger pointed down to the stool.

But I shake my head again, lifting my palms. "But really, I-" 

"Sit." Hidi rings again with more force in her tone, not breaking that mirth I've heard only use, but there is an edge now as if hinting not to refuse again. 

It's oddly nerving to hear, but I find myself obeying, though reluctantly swallowing and taking the stool. But my crimson eyes dart up to find her in the mirror just as quickly.

"Though, you don't have-" My voice cuts off as Hidi's fingers work off the chains before it happens. The red is off in one swift motion. Suddenly, it was replaced with a silver halo of curls.

Instantly, I feel my cheeks burn; my mouth grows dry, frozen, and waiting for her reaction. I half expected the worst. Disgust, repulsion, sneering. Just like I've seen so many times before. 

"Forgive me, let's-"

A gasp blows through her lips, and then a grin pulls up the corners of the mirror.

 "It's breathtaking." She breathes, half a whisper, half a gasp. Before she looks up at me, her green eyes sparkling.

"You keep this hidden? Why?"

"Why?"  Isn't it obvious? But the words dry on my tongue. I swallow again as my fingers curl around the stool head.

"Your majesty, you don't-"

"I think a French braid will do." Hidi continues, nodding to herself as she reaches over to pick up the brush to start separating the strands tenderly. 

"And it's Hidi. Not Your Majesty," Hidi wraps her large hands over to squeeze my shoulders with a gentle pump.

"I'd like it if you call me that from now on." 

"I…alright." I only nod, not sure what to say. It must be the right answer, though. 

 Hidi beams in the mirror again, pulling my hair into more sections. Her green eyes focused as she performed the magic, letting a pause turn into a moment of silence with her concentration.

In the quiet, I take it as my chance to watch her hands. Trying to use the opportunity to learn. I motion my fingers to mimic hers as if trying to make a physical note by muscle for later.

Hidi smirks in the reflection, noticing.

"Do you not know how to braid hair?"

"No," I answer frankly, still mimicking her fingers, starting to understand the method. " but I'm learning." 

"Learning?" Hidi smirks again with a soft huff. "How odd." 

"Odd?" I flick my eyes up to see her chuckle softly before pulling another piece.

"I mean odd, but in a good way." Hidi reaches over to grab a ribbon from the vanity, tying it together before reaching back to grab the handheld mirror. 

"I like it." And she turns the mirror up to show the back.

My mouth drops with a soft gasp when I see her work.

"It's…Thank you," THe words rush out sincerely. "It's… been so long since I've seen my hair braided." I swallow. Too long.

It's as beautiful as if Maddie did it. I swallow, quickly moving to wipe the tear, threatening to leave with the back of my hand. 

I can't cry here. Certainly not in front of another monarch. What would she think of me?

"I'm glad you like it." Hidi beams a smile, dropping the mirror lean over to hug my shoulders. I stiffen at the sudden act of affection. But I don't think Hidi notices.

"You are adorable." She coos, pulling me a little tighter before suddenly letting go to spin on her heel abruptly.

"Now, the costume!" She declares, storming back to pull out gowns again, tossing the rejects over her shoulders as if on a time crunch.

"Let's see what I can do- oh!" Hidi abruptly lifts out a white dress to hold high in her arms. A grin spread over her face again.

"A bride!"

"A what-" My eyes forget to blink as Hidi is back to digging for something else now.

"Wonderful!" She exclaims, pulling out a white scarf. "A veil, too!"

"And as for the bouquet-" Hidi rushes over to ungracefully pull a thing of flowers from a vase. Water drips everywhere as she carelessly holds them over. 

"Instant bride!" She cheers, clapping her hands in a thunderous tone.

I look from her smile to the still-dripping roses falling to drench my gown, stunned at the sudden force of the topic again.

What is it with today? All this talk of marriage out of nowhere? It's bizarre. I haven't even had my first blood, let alone think about any of that. 

I haven't needed to. 

I already have enough to worry about with ruling, and Father, and Nicoli-

"You'll make such a pretty bride." Hidi shoves the flowers at me to hold before throwing the scarf over my fresh braid. 

"Look, you're beautiful!" She gushes. I don't even bother to look before already shaking my head.

"Hidi, this costume is not-"

A knock on the door has both of us stop to look over.

"Come in?" I go, expecting to see Naska or some human maid, maybe come in. But I am gobsmacked to find it, either.

But just seeing the old grey woman makes my stomach shrink as I clench my hands close to me. Julia, meanwhile, makes little effort to greet me. Instead, she takes a glance at the room before stopping on Hidi.

"Your majesty," Julia bows."Queen Belinda wants a word with you." 

"Which one?" Hidi, meanwhile, laughs somehow lightheartedly against the old woman and leans on me. 

"Does she mean her Empress or me?" Hidi points with another giggle. The old maid stiffens her shoulders at the sight.

"I mean you, your Majesty." Julia tightens her lips. 

"Ah, well, I guess I should then, shouldn't I?" Hidi only sighs as if disappointed that our time together has to be over, but just as quickly, that grin of hers is back on. 

"I'll see you later, Ana." Hidi leans down to kiss my cheek. It's a small peck, but I'm left wide-eyed. 

"Hidi-" I immediately cover my cheek as Hidi turns on her heels to click against the wood. She smiles with a wink before turning to dodge the old maid standing still at the door to enter the hall. 

At the door, Julia lingers a moment. Her eyes narrow on me. It is not a mean stare but instead to observe something.

"Your Empress," Julia finally bowed stiffly before following behind her, closing the door. Leaving me still sitting on the stool with dripping flowers and a white scarf over my head.

"But I'm still not-" I suddenly see myself in the mirror, realizing that's why she was staring. I am still in my underwear. My hoop skirt isn't even tied.

But I don't dwell on it long before that strange stab finds and hits the lower part of my stomach again.

I wince, rubbing at it to ease the tension. But the sensation of cold water seeping into the fabric to chill my skin makes me look down. 

The roses. I had forgotten about them. They are still in my hand. And, of course, I've managed to scratch myself with the thorns. Little red lines run over my palms. 

At the scent of iron, I suddenly can't resist and move to lick up the little pearls of blood. Tasting the coppery tinge on the tip of my tongue before feeling that mysterious pain in my stomach lessen. Just a little. Strangely satiated for now.

Odd, but maybe it's because I am famished? I realize. 

That's right, I've barely eaten today, haven't I? What with the events and nervousness? I barely got to eat more than a cookie.

Will there be food at the ball? I hope so, flicking my tongue over my tingling fangs. They are rather sensitive right now, almost like a tickle.

But first things first, I note, turning back to the mirror to meet my pale twin. I can't eat until I'm dressed. 

And with Naska still not here and Hidi gone…I turn back to the white dress Hidi has carelessly dropped. 

I sigh heavily. "It's not like I have a better choice." And I move, starting with my hoop skirt.